Ladies & gents, head over to the Matador Store right now to get your hands on these limited-edition (200 of each) “Matador at 21” posters a few of our good friends and collaborators designed specially for “the Lost Weekend” & our coming-of-age.

James McNew – Brooklyn-based musician and artist. Bass player, multi-instrumentalist, and occasional lead singer in Yo La Tengo. Also well known for his four-track home-recorded project Dump. (16.5″ x 24″)

Mogollon – very well known NYC design firm, does work across the fields of fashion, music, editorial, etc., from Madonna to Om Records to Tush Magazine. Also designed a Matador label T-shirt http://www.mogollon-ny.com (18″ x 24″)

So you couldn’t make it out to Vegas, huh? Well it’ll be so much easier to lie to your friends and say you were there with when you’re rocking one of these sexy Matador at 21 shirts. American Apparel printed tees, act quick as limited stock remains!!!!

… including a wedding. We’ll have tons of our own footage coming up, but this précis is pretty great. Sound of the bands improves markedly about halfway in (I think the person must have switched cameras). Well done, and thanks to humanclock.

That didn’t turn out so badly, did it? From our perspective the paying customers and bands at last weekend’s Matador 21 celebrations at The Palms (NOT SHOWN ABOVE, sheesh!) had a great time. So did we — ridiculously so. I think I can speak on behalf of Chris, Patrick and Martin when I say the 72 whirlwind was equal parts humbling, gratifying and inspiring — the overwhelming majority of performances were scorchers (feel free to rate ’em yourself in the comments area) and we couldn’t have been more psyched to be surrounded by such a crazy bunch of friends, old and new, from around the world. That so many of you went to such lengths to attend this event is not something we’re gonna forget for a very long time.

We’ve got a mountain of people to thank and if I’ve left anyone out, please take it easy on me BECAUSE MY HEAD STILL HURTS FROM SUNDAY. To our co-promoter, FYF Fest (Sean Carlson, Phil Hoelting, Mariko Jones) gracias for believing this could actually work. To our hosts, The Palms Resort & Casino, you couldn’t have been more gracious or helpful (especially when you removed the “PRIME RIB SPECIAL” text and replaced it with “MATADOR 21 : SOLD OUT” on the marquee). Though the auspices of MySpace Music, millions of viewers around the globe were able to see Mitch Mitchell nearly get his lights punched out some amazing shows. Altamont – thanks for the cool tote bags (and for not cursing us, with, y’know, Altamont-esque vibes) , Incase, thanks for the iPhone cases. Sailor Jerry, Miller and Black Star — despite nearly killing a few of us, we’re thanking you as well.

Transmission‘s Graham Williams and Johnny Sarkis performed tireless troubleshooting duties just hours after opening a new venue in Austin, TX. David Scheid became “THE FIXER” in ways that had no impact on Sunday’s NFL schedule, but heroically assisted our efforts over the weekend in ways we can barely quantify. I’ve already thanked Nils Bernstein, Gabe Spierer and Adam Farrell privately, so I’ll not embarrass them by citing their brilliant work in this public space. Winston Case’s excursions into the Matador video vaults might’ve exposed him to asbestos, bed bugs and VIDEO MADNESS, but such sacrifices kept us entertained between bands. Archivist Jesper Eklow and former design geniuses, Mark Ohe and Frank Longo, helped assemble many of the fantastic materials that were on dazzling display over the course of the weekend. We thank Zia Records and Origami Records for setting up show in the lobby, and patiently answering my inquiry about that “fuck you” song I’ve heard so much about (weirdly, that record wasn’t for sale).

Our masters of ceremonies for the weekend were thrown to the lions and somehow emerged unscathed ; Jeffrey Jensen, Bob Nastanovich, Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster, thank you so much for sparing all 2300 ticket holders the “humor” of Jay Mohr. On the DJ front, we commend Mike Haliechuk, James McNew, Dean Bein, Rusty Clarke and Dave Martin for supplying excellent pre-recorded entertainment. Karaoke Underground made their Las Vegas debut late Saturday and Sunday nights and with assistance from such members of the Matador roster as Ted Leo, Sandy Miranda, Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley, showed the Matador at 21 attendees what Austin residents have known for ages (ie. K.U.’s shows-are-tops, so thanks, Kaleb & Hannah).

An attempt to do something on this scale wasn’t gonna be without hiccups — or wild coughing spasms. But by the time Guided By Voices had concluded their 30 song set early Monday morning, we felt like The Lost Weekend was everything we’d hoped for and a little bit more. You might feel otherwise, and perhaps someday there will be an open forum of some sort where you can freely express your dissent. Until that day arrives, however, everyone who wasn’t there will just have to trust me when I say Matador At 21 Was A Blast (and now I need a cold washcloth). To the people who care so much about our artists and label, thank you for sharing it with us.

The majority of this weekend’s sets from the Pearl will be part of a live video/audio stream presented by MySpace Music starting Friday evening. Though the lineup for the webcast is subject to change, we can confirm that although they’re not included on MySpace’s currently published schedule, Sonic Youth and Cat Power are both participating. Apparently it’s gonna be viewable on iPhones and iPads as well, which should lead to a complete breakdown of socially acceptable behavior in homes and businesses across the world this weekend.

Harlem (above, left) are playing the Palms Ballroom Friday after Fucked Up vs. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists ; Dead Meadow (right) are playing the same room late Saturday after Esben and the Witch and Cold Cave. We’re NO LONGER featuring a Saturday afternoon Harlem/Dead Meadow matinee.

It’s a long story but we came to the conclusion a 1:30pm start time on Saturday was a bad bad bad deal for the participants and everyone who’d been rocking Friday night combined. Our apologies for any inconvenience. Also, the event is now officially totally sold sold.
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As of this writing, there’s a handful of tickets remaining for this weekend’s festivities at the Palms ; late Friday we determined a portion of seats we’d previously reserved for artists, families and friends could be make available to the public. Now that we’ve pestered those who came up short in the last lottery, there’s still a few left (appox. 30 pairs). These tickets are marked as “preferred seating” and do not include access to the VIP opening party on Friday, or any of the afterparties in the Hardwood Suite — sorry, but we’re at capacity for those events.

The Palms consists of three towers – two of them quite close together in the casino, the Palms Tower and the Fantasy Tower. Both the PEARL THEATER and the PALMS BALLROOM are located in this area, along with most of the bars and restaurants.

The third tower is called Palms Place is and linked to the rest of the resort by a long corridor with moving sidewalks. It also has a separate entrance, parking garage and check-in desk. The address is 4831 West Flamingo Road, about one-quarter mile West in the same building.

Refer to following casino diagram as you read the rest of the FAQ:

(Please note that the top of the casino diagram is South. Click on image for larger version)

2. Where do I pick up my wristbands?

Pick up your wristbands at the PALMS BALLROOM (refer to diagram above). This is accessible through the Palms Tower entrance to the resort – the main entrance. Go STRAIGHT AHEAD through the slot machines, bearing right past the island bar, towards the entrance to the Pearl Theater. The two elevators to the ballroom are directly to the RIGHT of the entrance to the Pearl. If there is a line at the elevators, there is a staircase up (one story) to the ballroom, located directly to the LEFT of the entrance to the Pearl. There will be signs posted.

Make sure to have the credit card that you used to pay for your tickets AND a photo ID with you.

Note: People who purchased VIP tickets will get tickets (with their assigned seat numbers) as well as wristbands. People who purchased General Admission (GA) tickets will just get wristbands.

3. If I am staying at the Palms, where do I check into my room?

If you are staying in a Palms Tower or a Fantasy Tower room, you check in at the reception desk directly to the left of the Palms Tower entrance.

If you are staying in a Palms Place room, try to go directly from the airport to the Palms Place entrance. That entrance is at 4831 Flamingo Road, about a quarter mile further west on Flamingo. Cabs know where it is. Palms Place has its own reception desk, pool, restaurants, bars and facilities.

To get to Palms Place from the main part of the casino, walk to the very west end of the casino (i.e. head right after you enter), past the sports bar and the sportsbook, and look for signs for Palms Place. You will need to take an elevator up one floor and then take the moving sidewalks.

See map above: the mainstage shows are located at the PEARL THEATER which is situated in the main part of the casino. After you enter, you go DOWN one level (stairs or elevator) to reach the main portion of the Pearl.

If you bought a VIP ticket, you will have an assigned seat in one of the sections closest to the stage. The assigned seat will be on your ticket. Please show it to the usher.

If you bought a GA ticket, you have the choice of standing in the area directly in front of the stage (while capacity allows), or finding seats in the open areas. Both the standing area and the GA seats will be first-come first-served, each night. If you are sitting in the mezzanine or balcony, you may have to go up in the elevator or the stairs.

6. Are there in-and-out privileges for the shows?

Yes. You may leave and re-enter the PEARL THEATER (mainstage) shows at any time. Just show your wristband. Keep in mind that if you have a GA seat, you should have a friend keep it for you. If you were on the floor and it fills up to capacity during your absence, you may not be allowed back immediately, and will have to find a seat until there is room down there again. Or use a stadium pal.

7. Where are the afterparties and matinee shows?

Again, refer to the schedule located HERE. All the live band afterparties and matinees are located in the PALMS BALLROOM, which is where you collected your wristband (see answer to question #2).

The Karaoke Underground party on Saturday night is located at LITTLE BUDDHA, an Asian restaurant and lounge also located in the main part of the casino. It is quite close to the Pearl and the Ballroom. (See map of the casino above.)

The afterparties, the matinees and the karaoke are all first-come-first-served, and once the spaces fill up, we cannot admit anyone over capacity. The capacity of the Ballroom is approximately 600 people. In-and-out privileges will be observed so long as it is not over capacity.

8. What are the food and drink options?

There are bars located all through the PEARL THEATER, and bars will be available at both the PALMS BALLROOM parties and at LITTLE BUDDHA. The resort also has a food court and buffet, as well as multiple restaurants, bars and nightclubs. See the Palms site for more details.

Outside of the Palms there are innumerable food and drink options. Here are a few:

$$$ Piero’s – 1950s old-school red-sauce Italian joint where Vegas politicos hang out. One of the few original Vegas places left. Reservations required, and jackets for men (though this rule may not always be enforced). Be sure to request a table in the room with the bar. 355 Convention Center Drive, (702) 369-2305, pieroscuisine.com.

$$$ The Palm Steakhouse Las Vegas – The local branch of the famous steakhouse (absolutely no relation to the Palms Casino) is located at Caesar’s Palace on the Strip. Reservations recommended. 3500 Las Vegas Boulevard South (The Strip) in the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, (702) 732-7256, thepalm.com/Las-Vegas.

$ Lotus of Siam – One of the best Thai restaurants in the country. Be sure to tell them that you want Thai-level spicy, not dumbed down for Westerners. 953 East Sahara Ave., (702) 735-3033, no website. If it’s full, there are other restaurants in the large courtyard area where it is located, including a quite good Thai alternative.

$ In-N-Out Burger – Some people love it, some people love to hate it. We (mostly) love it, and can’t get it in the Northeast where we Matadorians come from. They’re all over Vegas, but the closest one is 4888 Dean Martin Drive, (800) 786-1000, in-n-out.com.

$ V Las Vegas Chinatown – Located about a mile north of the hotel is Las Vegas Chinatown, with tons of Asian restaurants, many with vegan options. Centered around Chinatown Plaza, located at 4255 Spring Mountain Road between Arville and Wynn, lvchinatown.com.

V Sunflower Markets – Vegas is not a great town for vegetarians and vegans, but this cheaper alternative to the Wholefoods grocery chain is also located closer to the Palms. 4020 S. Rainbow Blvd., (702) 876-4888, sfmarkets.com/sale-flyers/nevada.

V Wholefoods – If you prefer to go to an organic grocery you already know, then maybe you want Wholefoods anyway. The closest one is located pretty far south on the Strip, near the turnoff to the freeway to the airport. 6689 Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 589-7711, wholefoodsmarket.com.

9. Can I smoke at the shows?

No. You can smoke on the gaming floors, and in some of the bars, but not in the PEARL THEATER.

10. Is there a swagbag?

Every attendee will receive a Matador at 21 totebag. It will not be filled with tons and tons of goodies, but it does have one very special item in it.

11. What kind of T-shirts, records, CDs and other special items will be on sale?

Two record stores, Zia Records of Las Vegas, and Origami Records of Los Angeles, will be selling in the lobby of the PEARL THEATER all weekend. There will be two designs of Matador at 21 T-shirts, seven limited-edition Matador at 21 posters by different artists, the Matador at 21 charity 6-CD box set and low-priced vinyl double LP compilation, records and T-shirts by all the bands performing, as well as a special curated selection of vinyl of all kinds chosen by the bands who are playing.

12. I bought a VIP wristband. Where can I go?

As per the answer to question #5, you have been assigned seats in the front seated sections. In addition, you have access to the Opening Gala in the two-level Hardwood Suite, from 4-7 PM on Friday afternoon. This is the only hotel suite in the world with a professional indoor basketball court, fully stocked with balls, not to mention a professional locker room, scorepad, pool table and room to dance. Of course there is a full bar as well, a rotating loveseat inside a closed cylinder for ultimate privacy, and many nooks, corners and rooms to escape the sports (if you prefer). The Hardwood Suite will close down during showtimes at the Pearl, and reopen afterward from 1-5 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. (It will not be open Sunday night after the last band has played.) Bands and staff may be hanging here as well. The Hardwood Suite is located in the FANTASY TOWER.

Note: the Hardwood Suite is also first-come-first-served, and once the space fills up, we cannot admit anyone over capacity.

13. I’m staying at the Palms. What are check-in and check-out times?

4 PM check-in, 11 AM check-out.

14. What else is there to do?

Slot machines, blackjack, baccarat, poker, sportsbook, swimming pool, the Drift spa (located at Palms Place) plus four other salons, tons of bars and restaurants onsite, a movie theater on site, Pole Position go-kart racing right around the corner on South Arville St. featuring speeds up to 45 MPH. Then – a quick taxi ride to the Strip, a slightly longer taxi ride to downtown, both worth checking out. Outside the city there are many options, from hardcore automatic weapon firing ranges to serious hiking.

Please make additional suggestions in the comments thread below. The more the better.

16. Is there an ATM onsite?

Oh yes.

17. Can I take photos and video?

Any non-flash photos are fine. NO VIDEO IS ALLOWED.

18. Will the event be filmed?

Yes, the event will be filmed by multiple parties. By attending the event, you consent to have your likeness used used in a future promotional or commercial release.

19. Can I park onsite?

Free parking is available at both the Palms Tower and Palms Place entrances.

20. How do I get from the airport to the Palms?

There are airport shuttles which charge a fee. One is Bell Trans, which charges $7.50 (subject to change) – call (702) 739-7990 or (800) 274-7433. Taxis are easily available and cost roughly $25 including tip.

21. Are there child-care facilities at the Palms?

The Palms offers a Kids Quest child care center, which charges a fee.

22. Is there wi-fi at the Palms?

Wi-fi is available in all hotel rooms for an additional fee.

23. How do I get updates and find out about any changes or special events? What if I have any problems or questions?

If you have any immediate questions (or suggestions), please make them in the comments thread to this FAQ. Keep in mind that we will not be able to answer these with any degree of promptness after Thursday night!

Beyond that: Follow the @matadorAt21 twitter feed. The Twitter hashtag for the festival is #matador21. Regularly check the website located at matadorrecords.com/21, which will be completely revised and updated shortly. You may also email , but please keep in mind that emails can only be answered in the order received.

First off, if these changes have left anyone disappointed or inconvenienced, we’re truly sorry. I’ve been watching videos of the guys in the BP commercials all week trying to strike the right tone for this post, and wouldn’t you know it, MY VIDEO CAMERA IS BROKEN. Bullet dodged.

On the bright side, hey, DEAD MEADOW are playing. The opening VIP gala is still happening at 4pm Friday in the Hardwood Suite with dj sets by Ted Leo and myself. Same room becomes a VIP lounge Friday and Saturday nights, plus late night dj action on Friday (James McNew, Dean Bein) and Saturday (Dave Martin, Robby Morris). Here’s the live entertainment schedule of events. Much like real life, everything is subject to change.

LATE NIGHT PARTY IN PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Fucked Up Vs. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: 1:30am – 2:30am
(One stage. Two bands. At once. They’re supposed to take turns, song by song…but who knows?)
Doors: 1:00am

We will be releasing a small quantity of GA tickets for Matador 21 next week by lottery. Winners will be picked at random and notified on Tuesday, September 14th at 9:00am. Winners will have 24hrs to purchase their tickets. If they fail to do so, a new winner will be selected the following day at 9:00am. All winners will be given the option to purchase 2 tickets at $250 each + service fees and taxes. This is your last chance (we hope!) to be part of the greatest weekend in human history

To enter the lottery please send an email to [email protected] with the title, “21 LOTTERY” in the subject line of your message.

On September 28, on the eve of the label’s 21st anniversary celebration in Las Vegas, the Matador at 21 box set lands in stores. The limited-edition box contains five CDs documenting the history of the label with remastered songs released from 1989 through 2010, and one CD of unreleased live recordings from the Matador 10th Anniversary concerts in New York City in 1999. These were recorded to multitrack via the Rolling Stones Mobile Truck and not mixed down until now.

As shown above, the set comes in a blue-grey foil-stamped linen-bound box. The six CDs sit in custom digipaks. An 85-page perfect-bound book documents the history of the label with essays, photos, ephemera, emails and more. In addition, the box holds 36 custom Matador poker chips in three values.

The release has been assigned the catalog number OLE-1000, which is pushing it a little bit because we’re really only up to OLE-949 (the upcoming Kurt Vile 7″) in the main sequence. A budget-priced double vinyl set reproduces the contents of Disc 5, ‘Matador Today,’ and will be available on the same day as the box. All proceeds from the set will go to benefit three charities chosen by the label owners, enumerated at the bottom of this post. The artists have graciously agreed to donate their royalties as well in order to make this all possible.*

First of all, we know you’ve been waiting patiently for the information below, and we sincerely apologize for the length of time it took to get it together. But if wanting to put together an even sicker bill than previously announced is a crime, PLEASE LOCK US UP.

1) 50 additional pairs of tickets priced at $250.00 per person (not including taxes and fees) will be available via a public lottery sometime next week. We’ll announce the details here and on the 21 site beforehand.

2) Details regarding a limited number of room upgrades will be available at that time.

3) We regret to announce that at present, our supply of VIP tickets has been exhausted. If that situation changes, we’ll let you know.

But only two of you. Contest details are here, but the gist of it is pretty simple. Our friends at eMusic are giving away two tickets to The Lost Weekend at The Palms, plus they’re springing for flights and hotel rooms. Gambling losses and legal fees are YOUR problem!

I know we keep promising more hard info about the actual event, and guess what…I’m doing it again. Next week we’ll be confirming 4 additional bands, as well as providing further details about the weekend’s schedule. Your patience is deeply appreciated, and if you have further questions, by all means, send ’em to [email protected]

It’s with considerable excitement that we’re able to reveal the addition of the Brighton trio Esben and the Witch to the Matador roster. Our first UK based signing in over 6 years, a pair of the band’s recordings — the self released ’33’ and the Too Pure Singles Club-issued 7″, “Lucia, at the Precipice” (the latter already trading for excessive sums on eBay) generated no small amount of global curiosity (not the least of which coming from our offices). Hailed by The Quietus for their “opulent mixture of brooding electronics, crackling guitars and mythological rhetoric”, though Esben and the Witch’s early work is equally brooding and beautiful, we’re pretty confident Rachel, Daniel and Thomas had only skimmed the surface of what they’re capable of. Their debut Matador EP, the limited 12″, ‘Marching Song’, is scheduled for release on October 11th (October 12 in North America), augmented by two new songs, ‘Done Because We Are Too Menny’ and ‘Souvenirs’. The band’s first full length album is tentatively scheduled for release in early 2011.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP0Nv_ivTaw[/youtube]

The accompanying video for ‘Marching Song’ was directed by David Procter and Peter King from the The Agenda Collective.

Esben and the Witch will make their US debut this September touring in support of Mercury Prize nominees Foals along with participating in Matador At 21 : The Lost Weekend in Las Vegas. A subsequent UK tour will begin in November.